It wasn’t that she looked down on young doctors, but Sophia seemed more like a celebrity or influencer. With her youth, beauty, and figure, she lacked the air of a traditional medicine practitioner. Amara’s impression of a doctor was someone older with a sage-like demeanor. Bringing someone like Sophia felt like a joke.
Amara’s face stiffened, and before she could speak, an assistant standing behind her chimed in.
“Miss, it’s cold outside, and Madam is waiting for you. Let’s head in first.”
“Alright.”
Amara entered the villa while the assistant turned to Barbara and said pointedly, “So, Olivia, you’re an old friend of Miss Amara?”
Barbara smiled awkwardly. “Yes.”
“No wonder. Madam mentioned that the family didn’t have much in the past. Perhaps you’re unaware, but the Amara family is now quite prominent. The people they associate with are all wealthy and distinguished. Many doctors have tried to treat Madam, and some have even sought to curry favor with the family under the guise of treatment. But, you see, wealthy people are wealthy because they’re sharp and discerning. They can see through tricks like that. Don’t you agree, Olivia?”
The assistant’s gaze shifted to Sophia, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “And this… Miss Sophia, the so-called miracle doctor?”
The words “Dr. Sophia” were spoken by the assistant with a biting tone, heavily emphasized, clearly laced with sarcasm.
Sophia’s brows furrowed slightly as she exchanged a glance with Barbara, who had an apologetic look in her eyes.
Barbara was also taken aback. Her memories of Amara were of a lively girl who used to play games like hopscotch and jump rope with her, and of Aunt Amara as a warm and kind woman. She hadn’t expected that, after all these years, both had changed so much.
Now, Amara was a wealthy woman, and like many rich people, she seemed to view herself as fundamentally different from “poor” people like Barbara.
Regret bubbled up in Barbara’s heart. If she had known things would turn out this way, she wouldn’t have dragged Sophia into this mess. What was meant to be a kind gesture had become an embarrassing situation. The assistant’s insinuations that they were trying to curry favor with the Amara family were clear, and Sophia was blatantly looked down upon.
The Amara family’s house was lavishly decorated, radiating opulence.
It was the kind of “European style” that many wealthy families adored—extravagant and ostentatious to the point of gaudiness. To Sophia, it was a perfect example of how nouveau riche could ruin European aesthetics. The gold-plated floors and walls, oversized chandeliers, large round tables, and massive aquariums all screamed wealth but lacked taste.
Despite the lack of subtlety, one couldn’t deny that this was a rich household.
Amara led them to the second floor, where her mother, Josie, was staying in the master bedroom. The second floor had been modified into one large room, making it particularly spacious.
Josie lay on the bed, her expression listless and her demeanor drained. She barely responded to conversation, her spirits clearly low. However, upon seeing Barbara, she seemed slightly happier.
“Barbara, is that you? You’ve grown so much!”
Although Amara and Barbara often kept in touch through Whatsapp, and frequently viewed each other’s photos, Josie hadn’t seen Barbara in over a decade. She was surprised to see the tomboy she remembered had grown into such a beautiful woman, now even a doctor. The passage of time struck her profoundly.
“Auntie, it’s been such a long time. My mom often talks about you—how you two used to shop and play together. She always wonders how you’re doing these days.”
Hearing Barbara’s kind words, Josie softened, her earlier unhappiness momentarily forgotten.
“It’s really been years. How is your mother? Is she doing well?”
“She’s doing fine. Both my parents have stable jobs, and nothing much has changed.” Barbara smiled.
“That’s good. A life with no major troubles is a blessed one,” Josie said with a sigh.
Recalling the purpose of their visit, she asked, “So you mentioned you were introducing me to a doctor?”
“Yes, Auntie,” Barbara said, pulling Sophia closer with a smile. “This is my classmate. Don’t be fooled by her young age—her medical skills are remarkable. Why don’t you let her take a look at your condition?”
Josie glanced at Sophia. Her poise and elegance were apparent; she didn’t look like an ordinary person. She seemed to be the kind of academic prodigy that people like Barbara admired, the kind that excelled in school but lacked real-world experience.
In Josie’s eyes, knowledge learned in school was rarely sufficient in practice—especially for doctors. To her, Sophia was just a young girl who probably had no idea how influential the Amara family had become. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to let her take a pulse reading; if she prescribed something, she could always choose not to take it.
Just as she extended her hand, the assistant returned. Seeing Josie about to let Sophia check her pulse, the assistant frowned and said:
“Madam, treating an illness isn’t a trivial matter! I’ve already invited the best doctor in the city. He’s a true expert—someone who’s hard to get even with connections.”
The assistant, a distant relative of Josie, was accustomed to speaking casually. Since his work was usually reliable, Josie didn’t mind his attitude. However, his words made the atmosphere awkward, as they blatantly disrespected Sophia and Barbara.
